Convertible mechanism for furniture or the like



Jan. 17, 1928. 1,656,675

B. F. LINDSLEY CONVERTIBLE MECHANISM FOR FURNITURE OR THE LIKE Filed Aug. 1. 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 28 I 28. F J6 I a 6 Jan. 17, 1928. 1,656,675

B. F. LINDSLEY convnnnam: mzcrmmsm FOR runummn 0a ma LIKE FiledAuz. 1. 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Jan. 17, 1928.

UNITED STATES BENJAMIN I. LINDSLEY, OF MANSFIELD, OHIO.-

CONVERTIBLE MECHANISM FOR FURNITURE OR THE LIKE.

Application filed August 1, 1925. Serial No. 47,451.

This invention relates to convertible mechanism for furniture or the like.

The primary object of the invention is to provide and construct a mechanism in a combined unitary structure that is adapted without disassembling the parts or elements to be converted for use as a couch, cot settee, bed, swin or the like.

Another ob ect is to provide and construct such a convertible mechanism so as to afford facilities for folding the parts comprising the mechanism in juxtaposition to each other to conserve and economize in the space required for storage or shipping purposes.

Another object is to provide a folding foot rest that can be attached or detached to or from the mechanism.

Further objects consist in providing means for a combined foldable extension bed member and back frame, having legs pivoted thereto to permit folding same over the bed frame when desired and also to provide foldable end or side frame members which are adapted to be folded over the back of extension bed member Another object is to construct a wire fabric bed which is mounted upon a series of conical coil springs said springs being supported on a series of suspended bars which so are held suspended by helical springs attached to the bed frame and held in normal positions by a cross brace.

Another object is to provide means for holding the back frame at any angle with respect to the bed or seat of the swing and to hold said back frame at any desired angle when the mechanism is used for a settee, couch or the like.

The invention also provides means for holding and maintaining all of the parts in their proper positions when the mecha' nism is being used for any purpose intended, or folded for shipping or storage purposes.

These and other objects are attained by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation showing the swing hung from suitable standards and also showing in dotted line the position of the legs for supporting the spring bed frame when used for a bed.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of Fig. 1 showmg the position of the back and pivotal legs sup orting the back when the convertible me anism is used for a bed. It also shows the foot rest and mechanism for supporting and folding same. The back is shown in full lines as used when the convertible mechanism is set up for a. settee, couch or the like,

Figure 3 is a plan view of the bed spring or settee showing the fabric construction and conical coiled springs as well as the connections of the bed frame to the supporting members by compressed helical coiled springs.

Figure 4 is a view of Fig. 3 taken on the line AA of Fig. 3.

Figure 5 is a view of Fig. 3 taken on the line BB.

Figure 6 is a side View showing the parts folded for shipping or storage.

Figure 7 is an enlarged view showing the means and mechanism for supporting the foot rest and folding same in contact with the lower portion of the spring bed swing.

In the drawings the convertible mechanism is shown as substantially constructed of angle iron which is the preferred embodiment. The bed frame comprises side rails 1 and 2 and end rails 3 and 4 made of angle iron. The rails are connected to preferably present a flat upper portion of a rectangular frame (see Fig. 1). A series of bars 5,

6 and 7 are suspended from the end rails 3 and 4 by helical compressed springs 8 and 9 which are connected to the bars at one end and to the end rails at the other end, thereby yieldingly supporting the bars to provide resilient and yielding movement, when subjected to pressure or weight.

A series of conical expansible springs 10 are removably mounted and supported upon the bars 5, 6 and 7 as shown in Fig. 4. A combined wire and chain fabric 11 and 11' is provided and is adapted to extend over the top of the frame and conical expansible springs 10, to connect the tops of said springs and thereby maintain same in normal or vertical positions with respect to the supporting bars.

Two wires 12 and 13 extend in a longitudinal direction and are connected to the end rails 3 and 4, passing through the links of the chains 11', The wires 12 and 13 are connected to the end rails 3 and 4 by plates 14 and helical compressed springs 15. The chain portions 11' of the fabrics are connected to the top of the conical springs and clip link connections 16 and 17 of different lengths are connected to the end rails and to short clip links 18 and clip links 18 connect the conical springs to the side rails. Each row of conical springs between the end rows are connected in series by short clip links 18 In order to maintain the suspension bars in normal position with respect to each other and to strengthen the supporting members that sup ort the conical coiled springs and combined wire and chain fabric at the point of least resistance, a cross brace 18 is provided and attached to the side rails 1' and 2 at its ends by compressed expansible helical springs 19 and 20 and to the end of the sus ension bar 18 as shown in Fig. 3.

he spring bed or seat of the settee or the like just described provides structure that is sim le in construction of maximum strengt and at the same time provides comfort, convenience and stability in a bed or bed structure due to the yielding connections of the fabric and the resiliency of the conical coiled springs and their yielding supporting means. Angular brackets 21 extend rearwardly beyond the end rails 3 and 4 and are attached to the side rails 1 and 2 at each corner of the bed or settee frame.

The upwardly and rearwardly extending free ends of the brackets provide means of pivotally attaching the side members of the side frame, thereby providing means of folding the side frame members on a horizontal plane over the to of the bed or seat of the swing) (or the li e) after the back which will e described hereinafter, has first been folded over the top of the bed frame. The

ivot 23' connects the side frame to the rackets.

In the drawings the bed spring or seat of a couch or the like is shown suspended or hung from a stand A, of substantially inverted V shape construction. It wil of course be understood that the swing or the like can be hung from the ceiling in the same manner as will be described for hangin the swing or the like from a stand or standard. To suspend the bed or seat frame from the standard or ceiling a short piece of chain 24 is fastened to the apex 25 of the standard or ceiling and two diverging chains 26 and 27 are attached at one end of the free end of the chain 24 and their opposite diverging ends of the chain are attached to the side frames 22 by button fastening means or the like as shown at 28-28.

L shaped brackets 29 and 30 are secured to the top of the end rails 3 and 4 of the bed or seat frame in spaced relation from the front of side rail 1. A back frame B is constructed of an lar frame members 31, 32, 33 and 34 an bars 35, 36, 37 and 38 which are yieldingly attached to the members 32 and 34 by the helical com ressed springs 39 to provide a resilient an yieldemon ing back which gives a comfortable and restfu effect to the user of the swing or the like. To maintain the position of the bars 35 to 38 inclusive, a cross bar 40 is preferably attached thereto as shown more clearly in Fig. 1.

The side members 32 and 34 of the side frames have their ends 41 and 42 projecting downward beyond the bar 33. The ends 41 and 42 are pivotally connected to the L shaped brackets 29 and 30 which provides means of adjusting the back to any angular relation to the bed, seat of the swin or the like and also affords facilities for $014 ing the back in close contact therewith for shi ping or storage purposes.

hains 43 and 44 are provided with books 45 which can be adjustably inserted in the eyes of the links of the chain is at any point thereof to hold the back at any inclination to the seat or bed to suit the user of the swing.

It will be noted that the arrangement just described provides for various adjustments with respect to the angular relation of the back to the horizontal position of the bed, seat or the like.

When it is desided to use the convertible mechanism as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 in full lines for a swing the back and side frame are positioned as shown with legs 46 and 47 which are held together by bars 48 as shown in dotted lines folded on the inside of one leaf of the angle iron bars comprising the side rails 1 and 2 thereby concealing same from view. They are held in such positions by a conventional snap or button fastening means (not shown) until it is desired to use the mechanism for other purposes such as a cot, bed or the like.

When the legs 46 and 47 are used for bed or couch purposes the legs 46 and 47 are maintaine in upright position by angular braces 49 and 50 as shown in Fig. 1. p

The back B is provided with leg members 51 and 52 which are tied together by a bar 53. The leg members are ivotally secured to the brackets 54 and 55 w ich are attached to the member 31 of the back B. The swinging or pivoted legs are held in close contact with the back when not in use by a pivotal latch member 56. When it is desired to use the convertible mechanism for a bed the le s 46, 47, 51 and 52 and back are swung to t e positions shown more clearly in Fig. 2.

Of course it will be a parent that when the mechanism is used or a bed that the hanging chains and connections are disconnected from the convertible mechanism.

When it is desired to use the convertible mechanism for a settee, cot, couch or the like the hanging chains are disconnected from the convertible mechanism and the legs 46 and 47 are swun from the folded osition as described. The chains 43 and 44 are connected by hooks or the like for ad- Inn justment along the chains 26 and 27 at one end and their opposite ends are connected to the buttons 28.

To provide a foldable foot rest for use in combination with the mechanism when it is used for a swing, cot or the like the following combination of elements are used in association with the other parts of the convertible mechanism, to wit: Swing supporting standards 57 and 58 preferably made angular in cross section are pivotally connected to the end rails 3 and 4 of the bed or couch frame. Plates 59 and 60 are pivotally secured to the standards 57 and 58 by pivots 61 and they are maintained in angular relation to the body of the convertible mechanism by angularly positioned braces 62 and 63.

A foot rest 64: preferably round in cross section is provided having parallel projecting members 65 and 66 preferably round in cross section, the free ends of which are positioned on the plates 59 and 60 preferably (by rivets 67) in offset relation thereto so as to bring the end of the parallel members in abutting relation to one leaf of the swinging supporting standards 57 and 58 thereby rigidly but movably supporting the foot rest in angular relation relative to the body of the convertible mechanism.

When it is desired to fold the convertible mechanism for shipping or storage purposes the following operation is performed as follows (see Fig. 6): First the chain connections are disconnected from the back and sides of the convertible mechanism; then the back frame is folded over the top of the bed frame and springs; then the side frames are folded over the top of the bed frame or seat in opposed relation to each other. The foot rest parts shown at 64,65 and 66 are then folded in contact With the swinging supporting standards 57 and 58 and then the braces 62 and 63 are removed and folded and the complete foot rest is then swung underneath the swing seat or bed spring or the like as shown in Figs. 6 and 2 ready for storage or transporting.

Attention is called to the fact that conversion of the mechanism is accomplished without the removal, change of any of the parts, an additions thereto or alterations for provi ing a swing, a bed, a cot, couch or settee or the like and that the entire parts and mechanism are so associated with each other as to be combined into a unitary structure for such purposes and capable of being converted easily, conveniently and efiiciently into the different furniture forms, with accuracy, precision and speed.

It will be observed that the material used in its construction is of such shape as to give the convertible mechanism maximum strength and minimum weight.

The term convertible mechanism used herein is to describe in a general way means of and mechanism whereby the mechanism can be converted into different kinds of furniture or the like such as swings, cots, a bed, couch, settee and the like and further to describe such convertible means whereby the means and mechanism can be knocked down, or folded together in close association and in contact for shipping and storage purposes.

I claim:

A swing including a bed bottom, a back movably connected to the bed bottom to permit the back to be folded down onto said the swing comprising inverted V-shaped uprights and surface engaging bars extending between and removably connecting the u rights, and flexible connectors removab y connecting the uprights and end members, whereby the parts may be folded and the supporting frame collapsed to provide a compartively flat package for storage or shipment.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

BENJAMIN F. LINDSLEY. 

